It’s the first time I’ve created a vision board on my PC. Always gone for the manual way before. I think there are benefits to both. This is a lot quicker but I enjoy flicking through the magazines and selecting the photos. Both are great fun though…and both work! (See my old posts).

Great article from O Magazine also, written by Martha Beck, about how to best create a vision board. Covers the importance of letting go of the ideas once you’ve ‘put them out there’. You create the vision and put the power into it while you’re making the board, after that you can let it go. Makes a good point – when you hear of people who’s amazing visions have come true, they always seem to say: “It was only two years later, as I unlocked the door to my dream home, that I remembered that vision board” etc.

The important thing I think is to put all your creativity and effort into it while you’re doing it. Get yourself ‘in the zone’ by doing whatever feels good for you. Whether it’s lighting a candle while sipping tea and listening to soothing music or ordering a pizza and cranking up the ACDC (air guitar optional). By the way, there’s no limit to the number you make or how often you can make a new one. I have four now – the one I made in England, the one I made at the vision board workshop when I arrived in California, one I created for my novel, and now the Oprah one.

Dream on people!

It seems that Oprah actually granted Ellen DeGeneres’ wish! Not only that, Ellen was delighted. Turns out she really wanted to get closer to Oprah.

As a result, she ended up being interviewed on the show.

Is this proof that vision boards work even if you don’t believe in them?

Oprah’s approach to this is just great. Most people would have been really annoyed that someone was taking the mickey out of them. They would either ignore it and store up bad feeling or retaliate in an angry way.

Instead, Oprah completely turns it around!

That’s it. The evidence is in. Vision boards work. Even if you don’t believe in them – or start off thinking you shouldn’t believe in them!

Make one anyway and see what happens.

It made me think of a question. Do vision boards work or not? Are they worthwhile and life-changing or just silly and pointless?  What do you think?

The case ‘for’: Clip one shows John Assaraf telling his story of how he got his dream home by using a vision board. John is very successful, well known and wealthy, and he puts much of this down to vision boards. In the clip, he shows us his home and the vision board in question. The house is, it has to be said, stunning.

The case ‘against’: Clip two shows comedian Ellen DeGeneres satirising Oprah’s well-document love of vision boards. Ellen is very successful, well known and wealthy, but it doesn’t seem like she is into vision boards. Or maybe she isn’t actually ‘against’ them – it’s just satire. Who knows. Anyway, it’s quite funny. And it sort of reminds you not to get too serious about this stuff, I think.

It made me think that having a balanced discussion about vision boards is important. Because that’s how we learn.

I’ve edited the ‘Experiment’ page to invite people to try making a vision board to see if it works for them…or not. I’d like to have honest feedback, not just positive comments. A mixture would be good and, I think, helpful. You can probably guess which camp I’m in. But we all have times when we struggle to focus on what we want and I think sharing that would be a good thing.

What is the case for and against vision boards? What are the problems we can come up against? Are there ways to overcome them?

Would be interested to hear your thoughts.

It’s called ‘The Passion Test’, based on the bestselling book by Chris and Janet Atwood. I hadn’t heard of the test before but was invited to a workshop in Topanga, here in California. The workshop was led by Sylva Dvorak, an incredibly warm and inspiring speaker.

The test helps you to get clear about your top 5 passions. It’s a great method. Firstly you brainstorm and write down absolutely anything that comes to mind, including things which seem ‘wrong’. Often these have a seed of truth that can help you find your purpose. Then you use a great comparison method, which helps you to work out which are the Top 5.

It involves being very honest with yourself. Sometimes it can be a bit uncomfortable because you choose certain things above others. It’s the only way to cut through those things you think you ‘should be doing’ to find your true passions in life.

I thoroughly recommend doing this test. Afterwards, we made vision boards about our passions. I don’t think I have posted mine, so I will post it as my ‘Fourth Example’. Find out more about the Experiment and Vision Board Examples here.

I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has taken the Passion Test or similar tests.

I find that very inspiring, since it’s a journey I’ve been on during the last six months.

A vision board is a great way to start finding out what you want. I was taking a career coaching course to find my dream career when I first came across this idea last summer. It’s triggered huge changes in my life. See the ‘About Me’ page.

Here’s the link to the interview with Carlos Slim Helu

Celebs who apparently use the law of attraction include Will Smith and Jim Carey. I commented that it makes sense as Carey’s film ‘Yes Man’ ties in with the idea of saying ‘yes’ to opportunities that come up and shaping your own life. (Love that film and currently reading the book by Danny Wallace). Also, both actors have dramatically and succcessfully changed the direction of their careers since they started out.

Thanks also to Ted the Mighty who said that California’s ‘Governator’, Arnold Schwarzenegger, used the law of attraction to become famous and wealthy. To read how he did it, read this article on the ‘Good Vibes’ blog.

Seeing Oprah Winfrey talking about Best Actress nominee Gabourey Sidibe reminded me of an interview with Larry King where she talks about ‘The Secret’. Oprah had read ‘The Colour Purple’ and became obsessed with being in a film version of it. Nothing was working. Then she did this…

Oprah told last night how Gabourey skipped school to make the audition for ‘Precious’ on a Monday. On Tuesday, she got a callback. By Wednesday, she had the part. It reminded me how an important part of manifestation is…action. It isn’t just about visualisation, although that is important of course. You know it’s working because you start getting opportunities and ideas. Then you have to act on them.

The Oscars also reminded me of a story I heard years ago about Catherine Zeta Jones. Apparently, before she came to the States to try to make it in Hollywood, a fan gave her a gift. It was a collage of photographs of all the great female screen idols. In the middle, there was a picture of Catherine.

At the time she was well known in British TV but not in the States. She’d tried a singing career but it had stalled. At the time, it must have seemed a big leap to get to the same position as these great screen legends. The rest is history.

Sometimes, our dreams can seem like a big leap. The first step is to visualise it. The second is to believe it will happen. The third step is to act when you get an opportunity. The fourth step is to receive what you want.

The alternative? Do nothing and hope our dreams will materialise through chance.

Keep dreaming.

This morning I was out running and something struck me. I look for signs to help keep me on track.

Here’s an example.

I went to a workshop to work out the ‘top 5′ passions you want to manifest.

One of them was…a brand new yellow Beetle!

Next day I’m driving along the freeway. Notice a huge advert with a yellow Beetle on it. Since then I keep seeing yellow Beetles everywhere. When I see one, it reminds me to keep on track. Straightaway, I picture myself driving my brand new Beetle.

I go for a run every morning. Towards the end I get tired. This morning I realised something. There’s a pre-owned VW garage just at that point. I always look to see if there is a Beetle. Most of the time there is. It encourages me to keep running!

I really need to get a picture of a yellow Beetle for my vision board. For now, this will do.

A quick summary…

1. Was invited to a vision board workshop at beautiful ranch in Topanga a few weeks after arriving in LA. (Hadn’t even heard of vision board workshops before this). Met the fantastic ‘certified vision board facilitator’ (Ditto).

2. Competition to win a one-hour session with said facilitator. Guess who won it? That’s right. Me. Shock number two – she hands me her card. She is an editor and I am writing a novel. My novel includes a vision board (*insert twilight zone music here*).

3. Had a fantastic session with said facilitator. She suggested using it to look at my book since we’d made vision boards at the workshop. Judith Fine-Sarchielli. Fantastic editor, vision board coach, and Tuscan chef (she lived in Italy for 20 years)

4. Re-wrote some of book as a result and uploaded to ‘Authonomy’ website run by Harper Collins. Bit of a time-consuming site but worthwhile for feedback.  My pen name is ‘Amelia Field’.

5. Volunteered to help Judith with vision board workshop. Watch this space…

6. Now have a second updated vison board made at the workshop. Love it. Also made one to depict my book’s plot at Judith’s suggestion. Amazingly useful. Made a third vision board for friend who gave me a wonderful intuitive healing session. Her professional name is ‘Loving Essence’. First time I’d had anything like that and I felt a bit awkward but she was so kind and wonderful that it was a complete pleasure and very interesting. Board I made was themed around ‘gratitude’ (pic below). Another idea from Judith. Vision boards as gifts! Great idea.

7. Loving LA.

This morning the cleaner arrived (yes, we even have a cleaner provided – a dream come true for someone who hates cleaning as much as me) and so I went out for a walk on the beach for a while. I bought myself a bagel, a cup of coffee and a magazine, and went and sat and watched people surfing, jogging and sailing. Children were playing and people were relaxing, it was really idyllic. Now look down at my vision board and you might see some similarities! I might also mention that there are palm trees everywhere here…

I am still focussing on my vision board even though it isn’t here with me at the moment. Hopefully our stuff is going to arrive towards the middle of the month. I do have the photo below as well obviously but to be honest I can remember what’s on it, probably because I created it. I’ve already started to think about the things I’m going to add when it arrives though. I’m excited about that and I’m going to start collecting pictures.

Keep dreaming